Does America Really Know God—Or Will It Be as in the Days of Noah?

By Walt Thrun

Walt Thrun connects Scripture together better than anyone I have read. This book on America and her future prospects is a considerate, solemn, and hopeful offering. While the world can seem, at times, like it is falling apart, the fact is that God is going to bring it together under His rule and reign! Get right with God today and Buckle up! Rev. Keith Wiginton II, Pastor, Claremore First Baptist

Walt Thrun is one of America's prophetically insightful writers. This book 'Does America Really Know God?' introduces the reader to Israel, America and the other nations of the world in prophecy. Abraham and his two sons, Ishmael and Isaac are presented as they relate to successive generations and find their relationship reflected in today's news. Mr. Thrun's book also helps to disclose how the 'Fertile Crescent' plays a significant role in today's world. This book will confirm the place of Israel, America, and other nations in prophecy. Dr. Wayne Norton, B.A. Religion/Psychology, M.A. Min., M. Div., and D. Min., 40 years pastoral service.

I have known Walt Thrun for two decades and have read all of his previous books. His latest book 'Does America Really Know God' is extremely relevant to current times for America. Walt stresses that God's standard of righteousness has not changed over the ages. Then it is stressed that Israel, as God's chosen nation, disobeyed God's laws which brought on severe consequences. This is a book serious Christ-followers should read. It will help you to pray for America as well as challenge you to examine your own walk with Christ. Dr. Ted Kersh, D. Min., Bible Teacher, Ted Kersh Ministries, Edmond, Oklahoma

Other books by Walt Thrun in this genre

God's Plan for His Chosen - The Cost and the Conflict

Looking Backward from the Future - Until Messiah the Prince

The Scarlet Thread of the Bible - Behold the Lamb

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889433484

Book preview

cover.jpg

Does America Really Know God—Or Will It Be as in the Days of Noah?

Walt Thrun

ISBN 979-8-88943-347-7 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88943-348-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Walt Thrun

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scriptures marked ESV are taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV): Scriptures taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scriptures marked NKJV are taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION (NKJV): Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION®. Copyright© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain.

Scriptures marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE (NASB): Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, copyright© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1

How Does America Measure Success?

Chapter 2

Israel: Model for the Nations

Chapter 3

God's Commandments and Laws Are Immutable and Totally Relevant Today

Chapter 4

Idolatry Thrives When God's Standard of Righteousness Is Ignored

Chapter 5

Mercantilism Can Destroy a Nation

Chapter 6

Disobedience to God's Laws Define Spiritual Adultery and Harlotry

Chapter 7

Ishmael and Others of the East Will Be Significant Players at the End of This Age

Chapter 8

The Fertile Crescent: It Will End Where It Began

Chapter 9

Restoration of Israel

About the Author

Dedication

To my fellow veterans and staff at the Claremore, Oklahoma, veteran's center.

This book is meant to assist those veterans who are pondering whether the effects of their fight for freedom are being diminished due to the waning of Christianity and the attempted negation of the first amendment.

In addition, there is great concern that the pursuit of globalism by enemy nations will only bring on more wars, leading to the war of wars.

Thanks to all veterans, and fear not. God Almighty will bring His plan from the foundation of the world to fruition in His timing.

Introduction

This book covers events from God's covenant with Abraham to the time of Israel's restoration at the beginning of the millennial kingdom.

Though Israel is one of the smallest of the nations both in geographic area and population, the history of the nations has centered on Israel.

In addition, during the millennial kingdom, the world will be ruled by the King of the Jews. Israel and all of the other nations in the future will be ruled by a monarch.

Thus, while the nations of the western leg of the seventh world kingdom may consist of five democracies, the eastern leg may consist of five autocracies. In either case, all nations in the future will be members of a monarchy.

The eastern leg of the seventh world kingdom is discussed in detail in this book. Particular attention is given to Turkey, its history, and its future aspirations. This is addressed in a chapter titled "The Fertile Crescent: It Will End Where It Began."

The early part of this book reveals and confirms that God chose Israel to be the model for all nations and describes in detail how Israel fell through disobedience to God's commandments and statutes.

Two major sins that caused Israel's downfall were idolatry and spiritual adultery.

The third chapter of this book details the original Ten Commandments and the consequences for breaking any of them. It is also revealed that all of God's laws and statutes are immutable; thus, at the return of Christ at the end of the tribulation, He will judge the nations in accordance with His original standard of righteousness revealed to His fledgling nation 3,500 years ago. There is no such ideology as progressivism.

Chapter 4 focuses on idolatry. In many cases, committing idolatry may not be obvious to the offender. An idol needn't be something tangible; it may be an idea, philosophy, habit, or any primary concern that supersedes obedience to God.

Adultery will be applied metaphorically as being unfaithful to God who was the husband to Israel as Christ is to the church.

One of Israel's primary sins of adultery was to trade with enemy nations for what God could supply. This sin is very much abused in today's world.

The longest chapter in this book is titled Mercantilism Can Destroy a Nation.

This book references 850 Bible verses from forty-seven books of the Bible, twenty-eight of which are from the Old Testament books and nineteen from the New Testament.

The Old Testament books are deeply relevant to current events as will be confirmed throughout this book.

"Now all these things happened to them (Israel) as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV).

The New Testament is the fulfillment of the covenant God made and unilaterally ratified with Abraham approximately two thousand years before Christ.

The impetus for writing this book was based on the following Scripture passages.

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near…

…So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors!

…But of that day and hour no one knows…But My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be…

…For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…

Matthew 24:32-33, 36-38 NKJV

Chapter 1

How Does America Measure Success?

Does America believe that modern progressivism is more applicable than God's laws and statutes revealed 3,500 years ago?

It is widely accepted that everyone has a perspective on life, death, everything in between, and beyond. One's overall perspective will define one's value systems and serve to interpret events.

Organizations also have perspectives. Such perspectives are typically outlined in an organization's charter or mission statement.

For example, some contend that Fox News Channel is not really a news organization but rather an organization that offers a specific perspective on current events.

As such, Fox is described as an organization that focuses on the conservative viewpoint. Of course, there are other news agencies that focus on a more liberal perspective.

It is always interesting to listen to FNC and CNN discuss the same issues such as presidential effectiveness, climate change, the economy, and the right to life.

Nations have perspectives. America's perspective is broadly expressed in the constitution. Within nations, there are often factions or sects, each with its own culture or ideology.

As would be expected, factions or sects within a nation will produce division. In many nations, religious or ideological differences result in civil unrest that may lead to sectarian violence.

In America, such differences may lead to riots or at least political gridlock.

Choosing a perspective

Inasmuch as approximately 70 percent of Americans claim to be Christian, we'll examine the Christian perspective and see how that viewpoint defines one's interpretation of issues and events.

America as a constitutional republic is unique. America is a free country where each individual, faction, or sect can still choose their own perspective and view life accordingly, at least for the time being.

Varied and competing perspectives are accompanied, and in fact driven, by their respective ideologies. Several contemporary and competing perspectives active in America today, in addition to Christianity, include but are not limited to atheism, agnosticism, progressivism, secularism, Islamism, conservatism, and liberalism.

Whatever ism is desired determines their own meaning of events, circumstances, and life itself.

The benchmark for the Christian perspective

To assess the success or failure of America's Christian perspective, there must be a benchmark or a standard against which to measure performance.

The argument will be presented that such a benchmark is described in great detail in the Bible.

There will be those who argue that the Bible focuses initially on the nation of Israel and then the church and, therefore, limits its applicability to those specific segments of mankind; however, that viewpoint is extremely myopic.

While the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is largely the history and future of Israel, its history is unique in that the majority of it was written in advance and confirmed as history became reality. This unique aspect of Israel's history should by itself authenticate the Bible to the whole world.

The New Testament confirms and fulfills the Old Testament and continues the seamless presentation of how selected segments of mankind can and will regain the innocence lost in the garden of Eden.

True, God originally revealed His standard of righteousness and justice to the nation of Israel; however, Israel was chosen to be the living example for all nations, both religiously and politically.

The New Testament apostle and author Paul addressed the applicability of the New Testament based on the Old.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope

(Romans 15:4 ESV).

Paul later confirmed in the New Testament that Israel was and still is God's chosen nation to be an example for all nations. Israel was also chosen to receive the oracles of God.

Then what advantage has the Jew?… Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:1–2 ESV).

The apostle Paul expanded the argument for those who would limit the applicability of Old Testament teachings to the Old Testament time frame. Writing to the New Testament church at Corinth, Paul reminded them of the significance of events that happened during Israel's rich history.

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the age has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:11–12 ESV).

The above passage will be referenced numerous times in the following chapters.

Confirming biblical credibility

The Bible is the most popular book of all time with an estimated printing and distribution of six billion copies. The Bible outlines the battle of good versus evil and provides details of the final outcome of that universal battle.

The Bible was written over 1,500 years, ending in the first-century AD by more than three dozen inspired writers. And even though the Bible has numerous writers and covers a lengthy time span, it presents a seamless presentation of man's beginning, present, and future.

The Bible is accepted by Christians as the infallible word of God and contains no abrogation of any kind. The contention that any of the Bible's contents have been corrupted over time is absurd. While the Old Testament was written primarily to and for the benefit of the Jews, the New Testament was written for all peoples of the earth.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28 ESV).

God has, however, given all mankind freedom of choice to accept the Bible as the word of God or to reject it. In addition, the constitution of this great nation provides everyone the freedom to practice any religion whether or not they accept the Bible as the infallible word of God.

Why is the Bible the most popular book in history? Many read the Bible for more than religious or spiritual reasons.

Wisdom versus knowledge

Many read the Bible to gain knowledge because of its infallibility regarding prophetic fulfillment as it relates not only to Israel but also to many other issues such as the rise and fall of Gentile world powers. In other words, many search the Bible purely for knowledge reasons.

Wisdom can be defined as understanding the Bible by way of spiritual insight, which is, according to the Bible, a gift from God. Knowledge, on the other hand, is temporal and can be defined as knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association or cognizance.

Knowledge is attained and deals primarily with the physical and is acquired through the senses. Wisdom, on the other hand, is a more holistic view that considers the very reason for existence itself. Overall, the pursuit of knowledge generally precedes the desire for, or even the recognition of, wisdom.

There was a young physicist who was steeped in knowledge but did not have the desire for nor see the need for wisdom. He was totally engulfed in the physical which focused on observable facts and relationships.

However, when that young man held his first newborn child in his arms, he realized that knowledge was a wonderful thing, but it couldn't explain the miracle of life that he was holding and beholding. He then confessed that he was ready to ask for wisdom.

While those with wisdom accept the contents of the Bible by faith, those with knowledge accept the contents of the Bible based on observable facts. Therefore, some knowledge seekers will place much confidence in the Bible because one of the Bible's major and unique features is its ability to establish a history and record it before it happens. The Bible is the only book in the world that can claim that feature.

So then, the Bible has proven beyond question to be a credible source book for